Coin control device



' K. c. Buss 2,304,240- COIN CONTROL; DEVICE Filed July 15, 1938 3 SheetsSheet 1 Dec. 8, 1942. K. c. BUGG COIN CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 15, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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a a A l I! I 4 I 3 w. a M z 4 I If I 1 Dec. 8, 2- K. c. BUGG 'coI'N CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 15, 19:58 a Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 8, 1942 COIN CONTROL DEVICE Kenly C. Bugg, Farmington, Mo., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company,

North Tonawanda, N. Y., a corporation of Ohio Application July 15, 1938, Serial No. 219,412 11 Claims. (01. 194-9 This invention relates to improvements in devices for rendering ineffective counterfeit coins when they are deposited in vending machines, phonographs, and other machines having coin controlled, actuating mechanisms, whereby to protect the owner or operator of such machines against the loss which would otherwise be incurred.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which is highly selective without regard to the weight of the counterfeit coins.

A further object is to provide a device which is simple and reliabl in operation and which is so designed that the weight of the coins may be utilized to effect their movement through the device to the coin controlled mechanism, this object contemplating a device which is characterized by one or more inclined chutes, depending upon the number of coin denominations for which z provision is made, along which the coins roll by gravity.

A still further object is a device in which provision is made for the rapid and uninterrupted passage of the genuine coins to the coin controlled mechanism.

A still further object is to provide a device in which the testing of the coins is carried. out in such a manner that the possibility of jamming is minimized while the clearing of the device, if it should jam, may be readily reflected.

A still further object is to provide a novel design and arrangement of the parts of the device, whereby compactness, simplicity and economy in construction are insured.

Genuine coins have peripheral edges which are slightly rounded and of a uniform curvature.

. On the other hand, the peripheral edges of counterfeit coins, owing for the most part to the fact that they are produced by stamping or punching operations without particular care and without the subsequent coining operations to which genuine coins are subjected, have characteristics which differ not only from those of genuine coins but also from one another. Counterfeit coins may, however, be grouped in three general classes, those having one edge which is slightly rounded in the manner of a genuine coin and an adjacent edge of a curvature larger than that of a genuine coin, those which have one sharp edge and an adjacent edge of a curvature substantially the same as or larger than that of a genuine coin, and those having both edges sharp. The number of counterfeit coinswhich do not fall in the classes noted is so small as to be unimportant and need along line 3-3, Figure 1. Figure 4 is a fragmentary top view of the device. Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken along line 5- -5, Figure 4, and shows the manner in which an undersize coin is discharged from acoin chute. Figures 6, '7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are successive sections taken along lines 6-6, 7l, 8-8, 99, Ill-l0, |l-||, |2-l2, I3-l3 and I l-M, respectively, of Figure 4 and illustrate the manner in which a genuine coin of the proper denomination passes along the chute by which it is conducted to the coin-controlled mechanism. Figure 15 is an enlarged top view of one of the coin chutes. Figure 16 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the chute and is taken along line I'6l 6 of Figure 1. Figure 17 is a section through the chute taken along line' I'l-|1 of Figure 15. Figure 18 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the distinctive edge characteristics of a genuine coin and the three most general types of counterfeit coins.

The device comprises generally one or more chutes, depending upon the number of coin denominations for which provision is made, along which the coins, genuine and counterfeit, are caused to roll toward the coin controlled mechanism. The chutes are so designed that as the coins roll along them their peripheral edges are tested to determine whether they conform to the standard of genuine coins. When a coin does not conform to such standards it is rejected and discharged from the chute, thereby preventing it from efiecting the actuation of the coin controlled mechanism. The testing of the edges of the coins takes place after the latter have been tested for size (diametrical) and is accomplished by causing them to pass through an initial stage at 'a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical. Any coin having itslowermost edge sharper, or of a curvature less than that of a genuine coin is rejected. If such edge, however, has a curvature equal to, or greater than, that of a genuine coin, the coin is permitted, after being tilted so that it is inclined in the opposite direction with respect to the vertical, to pass to a second stage, Inthis stage the opposite edge of the coin is lowermost and if its curvature proves to be of a larger diameter than that of a genuine coin while the adjacent edge has a curvature substantially the same as that of a genuine coin, the coin is rejected. If such edge, however, is sharp or has a curvature equal to, or less than, that of a genuine coin, the coin is permitted to pass to a third stage. In this stage the coin rolls at the same angle with respect to the vertical as in the first stage but on the opposite side of the vertical center line and if its lowermost edge is sharper, or of a curvature less than that of a genuine coin, it is rejected. If, however, such edge proves to be of a curvature equal to that of a genuine coin, the coin, after being tilted, so that it is returned to an angle of inclination, equal to the second stage but on the opposite side of the vertical center line, is permitted to pass to a fourth stage. If, in this stage, the lowermost edge of the coin proves to have a curvature greater than that of a genuine coin, the coin is rejected. On the other hand, if its curvature is substantially the same as that of a genuine coin it is permitted to pass from the device to effect the actuation of the coin controlled mechanism with which the device is associated. In the case of coins that are very thin but of correct diameter, they will fall out the bottom or become wedged in the narrow slot under the second or fourth stage and are then released by opening up the sides for scavenging purposes, as hereinafter described.

The device, as illustrated, is designed for use in connection with a coin controlled mechanism which is rendered operative: by nickels, dimes and quarters, the chutes for the various coins being indicated at 20, 2| and 22, (Fig. 3) respectively, and being supported as a unit between end plates 23 and 24. The end plate 23 carries a head 25 which is in the form of a casting and which is formed with slots 26 into which the coins intended for the coin controlled mechanism are inserted. The coins which are inserted in the nickel slot roll down a trough 21 (Figure 2) and enter the chute 2B; the coins which are inserted in the dime slot roll down a trough 28 and enter the chute 2|; and the coins which are inserted in the quarter slot roll down a trough 29 (Figure 1) and enter the chute 22.

The chutes 2|], 2| and 22 are generally similar and are arranged at an angle of 30, more or less, with respect to the horizontal. Each includes a side wall 3|) which is fixed to the end plates 23 and 24 and a movable side wall 3| which is pivotally connected to the top of the fixed wall by hinge joints 32 (Figure 15). The said walls converge toward their bottoms, the movable wall being held in a predetermined relation with respect to the fixed wall by springs 33 (Fig, 8) which are carried by the pintles 34 of the hinge joints and which act against the upper edges of the walls. The movable walls of the chutes 20 and 2| are connected by arms 35 (Fig. 3) and 36 (Figure 3) and a link 31 while the movable walls of the chutes 2| and 22 are connected by a link 38. The lower edges of the walls 3| may, therefore, be moved away from the lower edges of the walls 30 by moving the link 31 upward. To this end the said link carries a lateral projection 39 which overlies a pin 40. The said pin is carried by the inner end of a lever 4| which is supported for pivotal movement upon a pin 42. The latter is carried by an .arm 43 which is mounted upon the end plate 23 and 75 supports a spring 44. The said spring is held under tension, one of its ends engaging a pin 45 which is fixed to the arm 43 and its other end engaging under the lever 4|. The spring 44, therefore, normally holds the pin 40 so that it lightly engages or is in close proximity to the lateral projection 39. The lever 4| is formed with a flanged arcuate extension 46 (Figure l) which is held in engagement with the inner end of an actuating rod 48 by the spring 44. The actuating rod extends through the end plate 23, is mounted for axial movement in the head 25 and carries a button 49 which may be depressed by a thumb or finger. Inward movement of the actuating rod causes the lever 4| to rock on its pivot, this movement of the said lever being transmitted by the pin 40 and projection 39 to the link 31. The lower edges of the movable walls of the chutes are thereby moved away from the lower edges of the fixed walls against the action of the springs 33 to clear or scavenge the chutes of any trapped coins. Upon release of the button 49 the said springs return the movable walls to their original positions while the spring 44 returns the lever 4| and actuating rod 48 to their normal positions, A collar 50 (Figure 1) which is fixed to the actuating rod acts as a stop and limits its return movement.

The nickels, dimes and quarters which are inserted in the coin slots 26 roll down the troughs 21, 28 and 29 and enter the chutes 29, 2| and 22, respectively, the angle of inclination of the said chutes being predetermined so that the force of gravity will be adequate to cause the coins to roll down them. Assume, for example, that a coin is inserted in the nickel slot. As it enters the chute 20 it rolls over a shoulder 5| (Figure 5) formed or provided upon the wall 30, encounters a rib 52 which is carried by the said wall and is deflected toward an opening 53 which is formed in the wall 3|. If the coin is smaller in diameter than the predetermined standard it is discharged through the opening 53, as illustrated in Figure 5. However, if it is of the proper diameter it will engage the wall 3| at the upper side of the said opening and will, therefore, remain in the chute, its angle of inclination being substantially the same as that of the said wall. While supported at this angle it rolls along the shoulder 5|, the upper face of the said shoulder being beveled to cause the coin to move to and fit closely against the wall 3|. As the coin approaches the end of the shoulder 5| it rolls upon a narrow ledge 54 (Figure 6) which is provided by the marginal edge of a horizontal flange 55 of an angle member 56, the companion flange of the said member being suitably secured to the wall 3|. The width of the ledge 54 is predetermined with relation to the curvature of the peripheral edges of a genuine coin. If the edge of the coin which rests upon the said ledge is sharp or of a curvature less than that of a genuine coin, the coin rolls along the ledge, encounters a deflector 51 (Figure 16) and is discharged through an opening 58 in the wall 3|. If, however, the edge of the coin engaged by the ledge has a curvature equal to or greater than that of a genuine coin, the coin will slip ofi the ledge upon a shoulder 59 which is carried by the wall 3| and as it moves along the said shoulder it encounters a flaring section 6|! of the flange 55 and is deflected so that it is tilted in an opposite direction with respect to the vertical, as illustrated in Figure 7. The end of the shoulder 59 is downwardly inclined and bevwall 30.

eled so that the coin is caused to fit closel against the wall 30.

As the coin rolls off the end of the shoulder 59 and continues down between the chute-walls, its angle of inclination corresponds to that of the wall 3|] while its peripheral edges are engaged between the latter and the wall 3|, as illustrated in Figure 8. If the peripheral edge which was tested by the ledge 51?. (the edge now engaged by the wall 3|) has a curvature corresponding to that of a genuine coin while the edge engaged by the wall 30 has a curvature greater than that of a genuine coin, there will be a force acting against the coin above its point of contact with the wall 3| and in the direction of the said wall. Hence, as the coin moves along the chute, its weight, in conjunction with the wedging action of the walls of the chute, causes it to tilt over into engagement with the wall 3|. In such event it encounters a deflector 6| as it continues down the chute and is discharged through an opening 62 in the wall 3|. The said wall of the nickel chute carries a strip 63 which extends under the lower edge of the wall 38 and which is located over the hinge joint 32 of the chute below so as to support the coin over that area when the nickel chute is opened for scavenging purposes to prevent the coin striking such hinge joint.

On the other hand, if the edge of the coin in contact with the wall 39 is sharp or of a curvature equal to, or less than, that of a genuine coin, the coin will not be influenced in the manner described but will continue to roll down the chute at the same angle of inclination. As it passes the opening 62 it rolls up over a projection 64 which is formed or provided upon the wall 3|] and is thereby lifted over the inner end of the deflector 6|. The coin rolls from the projection 64 upon a shoulder 65 which is provided upon the wall 3| and which is located under a rib 6'6 which is also carried by the said wall. The rib deflects the coin toward the wall 36, the upper face of the shoulder 65 being beveled to cause the coin to fit closely against the said wall, as shown in Figure 10. In this connection it will be noted that, beginning with this stage, (Figs. 4 and the wall 3|) is inclined at a slightly greater angle with respect to the perpendicular while the wall 3| is inclined at a slightly smaller angle, (Fig. 10), the angle formed by the said walls, however, remaining substantially the same. That stage of the chute where the difference in the angles of its walls takes place is indicated at 3|] and 3| and are best shown in Figure 15. The angle of inclination of the coin is thus increased slightly as it passes beyond the offset While guided in this manner the coin rolls upon a narrow ledge 6'! (Figure 11) and passes beyond the end of the shoulder 65, the said ledge being provided by the horizontal flange 58 of an angle member 69 which is carried by the wall 30. If the edge of the coin engaged by the ledge 6'! proves to be sharp or of a curvature less than that of a genuine coin, the coin will roll along the said ledge until it encounters a deflector Hi and is discharged through an opening Tl in the On the other hand, if the curvature of the edge of the coin conforms to that of a genuine coin, the coin will slip off the ledge 67 and drop upon a shoulder 12 (Figure 12) which is carried by the wall 30 and which is located under the opening H. As the coin rolls along the said shoulder it is deflected by a flared portion 13 of the flange 68 and is tilted over against the wall 3|, the movement of the coin in close con-' tact with the said wall being facilitated by the beveled upper face of the shoulder '12.

.As the coin continues down the chute, therefore, its angle of inclination corresponds to that of the wall 3| while its peripheral edges are engaged between the latter and the wall 30, as illustrated in Figure 13. If the edge of the coin which was tested by the ledge 61 (the edge now engaged by the wall 30) has a curvature corresponding to that of a genuine coin while the edge engaged by the wall 3| has a curvature greater than that of a genuine coin, there will be a force acting against the coin above its point of contact with the wall 30 and in the direction of the said wall. Hence, as the coin continues to move along the chute, its weight, in conjunction with the wedging action of the walls 30 and 3|, will cause it to tilt over against and to remain in contact with the wall 30. In such event it continues down the chute at such angle of inclination until arriving at an opening M (Figure 14) in the wall 30 through which it is discharged, there being an inclined plate l4 (Figure 2) arranged over the top of the chute 2| to deflect the coin across it and prevent the coin entering such chute and jamming during scavenging.

On the other hand, if the edge of the coin in contact with the Wall 3| proves to have a curvature which conforms to that of'a genuine coin, the coin will not be influenced by the walls 30 and 3| in the manner described and it will not be discharged through the opening 14 but will continue down the chute at the same angle of r V inclination. As it passes the opening 14 it rolls over an anvil or projection 15 which is formed or provided upon the wall 3| and passes endwise from the chute through an opening 16 in the end plate 24. The edges of the coin having thus satisfied the various tests to which they have been subjected, the coin is permitted to pass to the coin controlled mechanism with which the device is associated and the latter is thereby rendered operative. It is understood, of course, that the chutes 2| and 22 are adapted to test in a similar manner coins which are inserted in the dime and. quarter slots.

The various edge characteristics of coins are illustrated in Figure 18. In this figure a genuine coin is indicated at H and counterfeit coins at l8, l9 and 80. It will be notedthat the peripheral edges 8|, of the genuine coin have curvatures of the same small radius. The edges 82 of the coin 18, on the other hand, are both sharp while one edge 83 of the coin T9 conforms to that of the genuine coin 11. The curvature of the other edge 84 of the coin 19, however, is greater than that of the genuine coin. The coin has one sharp edge 85 and one edge 86 of a curvature that may be either greater or less than that of a genuine coin.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that of the coins shown in Figure 18, the genuine coin T! is the only one which will :bepermitted to pass to the coin controlled mechanism. All of the others will be discharged from the chute regardless of the manner in which they are inserted in the coin slots 26. For example, if a coin having the edge characteristics of the coin I8 is inserted in the device it will be discharged through the opening 58; a coin having the edge characteristics of the coin 19 will be discharged through either the opening 62 or the opening 74 depending upon the manner in which it is inserted in the coin slot while accin having the edge char-'- acteristics of the :coin 80 will be discharged through either the opening 58 or the opening II. If, during its travel along a chute, a coin becomes jammed between the walls, or is for any other reason arrested in its continuous downward movement, the button 59 may be depressed to clear the device.

The counterfeit coins which are discharged from the various chutes may be directed in any suitable manner to the point at which they are permitted to accumulate, a bafiie 81 which is carried by the movable wall of the chute 22 serving to direct the counterfeit quarters under the device.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the device will accurately test both peripheral edges of the coins which are intended for the coin controlled mechanism and will reject those coins wherein one or both of the said edges fail to conform to those of a genuine coin. The testing of the coins in the manner described is rapid and as their movement along the chutes is by gravity the possibility of the device jamming, and the attendant possibility of injury to the parts, is minimized. It is to be understood that while the device is illustrated apart from the coin-controlled mechanism with which it is associated it may, if desired, be incorporated in the said mechanism.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a coin chute having downwardly converging side walls against one side or the other of which a coin is adapted to travel, inclined to the vertical, in facial contact therewith, each of said walls having a passage therein through which an unacceptable coin is discharged, means in said chute on the opposite walls thereof and adjacent and in advance of the companion discharge passages for engagement with and for testing the peripheral edge curvature of a coin during its travel through the chute against one wall or the other thereof, those coinsfailing to conform to the edge characteristics of an acceptable coin being sustained in engagement with said testing means and directed thereby to the companion discharge passage, and means in the path of a coin unsustained by said testing means for directing such coin into facial contact with the opposite wall of the chute.

2. A device of the character described, including a chute having walls inclined to the vertical and along which coins, genuine and counterfeit, are caused to roll at different angles of inclination and at opposite sides of a vertical plane, means on one of said walls adjacent the bottom of the chute for testing one peripheral edge of said coins as they roll at the angle of inclination of such wall, means on the companion wall adjacent the bottom of the chute for testing the other edge of said coins as they roll at the angle of inclination of such wall, each of said walls having a discharge opening therein, and means for discharging through said openings and from said chute coins having peripheral edges which fail to conform to those of genuine coins.

3. A device of the character described including a chute which is arranged at an angle to the horizontal and down which coins, genuine and counterfeit, roll by gravity, said chute having side walls at opposite sides of a vertical plane which converge toward their bottoms and which are formed at spaced intervals with openings, means for causing said coins to roll along said chute at its difierent angles of inclination, means (ill adjacent the bottom of the chute and along one of its walls for testing the curvature of one peripheral edge of said coins while they roll at one angle of inclination, means disposed along the other of the chute-walls for testing the curvature of the opposite edge of said coins while they roll at a second angle of inclination, means disposed in the path of said coins for deflecting through said openings coins having peripheral edges which fail to conform to the edge-curvature of genuine coins, and means in advance of said testing means and adjacent said openings for diverting coins having edge characteristics conforming to those of a genuine coin away from such openings and toward the opposite wall of the chute.

4. A device of the character described including a chute along which coins, genuine and counterfeit, may roll, said chute having opposing side walls inclined to each other and to the vertical and which determine the angle of inclination of said coins during a part of their travel, a narrow ledge onto which said coins are directed by said wall and over which certain coins are adapted to roll while inclined against such wall, said ledge being of such a width that only coins having peripheral edges of a smaller curvature than those of genuine coins will remain on it, and deflecting means disposed in the path of those coins remaining in rolling engagement with said ledge for discharging such coins from said chute.

5. A device of the character described including a chute along which coins, genuine and counterfeit, roll, said chute having side walls which converge toward their bottoms, means for deflecting coins which enter said chute so that they follow one of said walls at substantially the same angle of inclination, a narrow ledge on to which said coins are guided by said last-named wall, said ledge being of such a width that only coins having peripheral edges of a smaller curvature than those of genuine coins will remain on it, deflecting means disposed in the path of those coins remaining in rolling engagement with said ledge for discharging such coins from said chute, those coins having edges which conform to or have a greater curvature than those of genuine coins slipping oif said ledge and continuing along asid chute, means for deflecting said last-named coins so that in their further travel they are guided by the other of said walls at a diiferent angle of inclination, and means for testing the other edge curvature of said coins while they roll at said last-named angle of inclination.

6. A device of the character described includ-' ing a chute along which coins, genuine and counterfeit, may roll at different angles of inclination and at opposite sides of a vertical plane, said chute having side walls which converge toward their bottoms, means for directing said coins so that at one stage they all travel at the same angle of inclination, said Walls engaging the peripheral edges of said coins in such a manner that if one of said edges conforms to that of a genuine coin and the other has a curvature greater than that of a genuine coin, the coin is tilted by gravity with respect to its original angle of inclination toward and in facial contact with the opposite chute-wall and continues along the chute at such angle of inclination, and means for discharging from said chute those coins which are tilted in the manner described.

7. A device of the character described including a chute which is arranged at an angle and down which coins, genuine and counterfeit, roll by gravity, said chute having side walls which converge toward their bottoms at opposite sides of a vertical plane and which are formed with openings, means for discharging undersize coins through one of said openings, means at different stages along the chute for causing said coins to roll along said chute at different angles of inclination, means for testing one of the peripheral edges of said coins while they roll at one angle of inclination, and the other edge while they roll at a difierent angle of inclination, and means for discharging through other of said openings coins having edges which fail to conform to those of a genuine coin.

8. A device of the character described including a chute which is arranged at an angle and down which coins, genuine and counterfeit, roll by gravity, said chute having side walls which converge toward their bottoms and which engage the peripheral edges of said coins during certain portions of their travel, means for discharging from said chute coins having peripheral edges which fail to conform to those of genuine coins, and means for moving one of said side walls relatively to the other to free any coins which may have been arrested in its movement along said chute.

9. A device of the character described including a chute which is arranged at an angle and down which coins, genuine and counterfeit, roll by gravity, said chute having side walls which converge toward their bottoms, means for pivotally connecting one of said side walls to the other, resilient means for holding said side walls in such relation to one another that they engage the peripheral edges of said coins during certain portions of their travel, means operatively associated with each of the chute-walls for testing by edgecurvature and discharging from said chute coins having edges which fail to conform to the edge characteristics of genuine coins, each of said testing means including a coin-engaging ledge of such width that only coins of less edge-curvature than genuine coins will remain thereon and a deflector in the path of such remaining coins for discharging them from the chute, and means for separating said side walls against the action of said resilient means to free any coin which may have been arrested in its movement along said chute.

10. A device of the character described including a plurality of chutes which are arranged at an angle and down which coins, genuine and counterfeit, roll by gravity, said chutes having side walls which converge toward their bottoms, one of the side walls of each of said chutes being pivotally connected to the other, resilient means for holding the movable walls of said chutes in such relation to the fixed walls that they engage the peripheral edges of said coins during certain portions of their travel, means for discharging from said chutes coins having edges which fail to conform to those of genuine coins, and a common actuating element for moving said movable walls away from said fixed walls to free any coin which may have been arrested in its movement along a chute.

11. A device of the character described including an inclined chute along which coins, genuine and counterfeit, may roll, said chute consisting of inclined walls converging downwardly at opposite sides of a vertical plane, a narrow ledge projecting inwardly from one of the chute walls and onto which those coins guided in facial contact with such wall are adapted to roll, said ledge being of a Width that only coins having peripheral edges of a smaller curvature than those of genuine coins will remain on it, other coins falling therefrom by gravity toward the other wall of the chute and continuing therealong, and deflecting means disposed in the path of those coins remaining in rolling engagement with said ledge for discharging such coins laterally from the chute.

KENLY C. BUGG. 

